End of summer snacks: seasonal delights.

End of summer appetizers, or: how to make an end of summer aperitif tasty and inviting, creative and with everything needed to make a gathering with friends enjoyable. When everyone is back from vacation, summer is not over yet! Work activities might resume, but there’s still time to organize an outdoor evening with friends. Well, here are some ideas to make everything more delicious!

Appetizers for the aperitif: the etiquette for the occasion

Appetizers for the aperitif, just what you need to organize a truly inviting and pleasant end of summer aperitif for your friends. With a bit of creativity, you can come up with many ideas to bring to the buffet, as the "etiquette" of the aperitif suggests. This means that, no matter how good they are, an aperitif cannot be complete by pouring chips, olives, or store-bought snacks into bowls. They may be inviting, but they should be complementary. A good buffet is made with easy and quick recipes to prepare at home.

Another tip for your aperitif: etiquette suggests preparing the location appropriately, to welcome your guests in the best way possible. You can indeed decorate the house, balcony, or garden with candles, creating soft light points, or dimming the house lights to create an atmosphere.

Make sure to collect RSVP from your guests in advance, so you can buy the right amount of ingredients you’ll need. One really bad thing that could happen is offering too few appetizers that are not enough for everyone!

Create a suitable support point for your aperitif: don’t forget the napkins, preferably cloth, and small plates so that your guests don’t stain their clothes. In case the small plates are not needed, ensure that your appetizers are "bite-sized", so that guests are not forced to hold multiple things in their hands. This applies when the aperitif is organized standing, which is often the case.

Quick appetizers are preferable, the important thing is that they don’t lack in taste and presentation. Also, be sure to accompany everything with alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, to satisfy those who do not drink alcohol. The must-haves: cured meats, the undisputed stars of every evening and every aperitif. Always offer a selection on a nice cutting board, with toasted bread on the side. That's how you make a good impression!

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Quick appetizers: simple and tasty dishes

When you want to create quick appetizers, the ingredients needed are few and simple. It will be enough to prepare something small yet good, tempting but not heavy. Summer appetizers are meant to complement without weighing down, even though at the end of summer the climate is no longer sweltering. Always keep in mind that you are preparing an aperitif, which will probably be followed by dinner; therefore, it’s always better to stimulate the appetite, as the word itself suggests!

Savory appetizers: for those who love classic flavors, the most loved appetizers

Savory appetizers are a great classic of the end of summer aperitif. So, let’s go for the most tempting cutting boards, made with Parma ham or why not, an inviting roast, or a salami that brings you the flavor of the countryside. To enjoy it all, prepare some toasted bread on the side. Each guest can prepare their preferred appetizer.

Along with cured meats, pair with cheeses, you can never go wrong! Create a nice mixed board of aged cheeses and fresh cheeses, to satisfy your guests who may prefer one type or another. To complete, pair with a significant honey and some fresh fruit diced, like figs, which are in season. You’ll taste the deliciousness!

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Appetizer recipes: prepare some tempting appetizers with these simple recipes!

Here are some ideas for preparing some tempting appetizers like stuffed vegetables to be served in small portions. They are simple to prepare, the only care is regarding their preparation: it is advisable to prepare them in advance, so that they arrive at the table warm, not hot.

Here you can let your imagination run wild with tomatoes, zucchini, or eggplants, to fill with a stuffing as your creativity suggests. The ideal is a light mix of bread and grated Parmesan cheese, seasoned with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, capers, salt, pepper, parsley, binding the mixture with egg yolk. Really delicious and inviting!

With the classic cutting boards of cured meats and cheeses, you can pair with bread but also with focaccia, tigelle, or fried dough, to make everything more appealing. Your guests will be able to create their favorite appetizer based on their tastes.

Prepare a fantastic shrimp and avocado salad. Never made it before? It’s super simple, just blanch the shrimp, cut the avocado into cubes and dress everything with extra virgin olive oil, lime, and ground pepper. You’ll get an exceptional mix of flavors!

Are your guests vegetarians or vegans? No worries, there’s something for them too. Removing the cured meats, cheeses, and fish, there still are great classics to present like a fantastic Caprese salad or a panzanella: get fresh tomatoes, basil, tofu, and dress everything with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. A delight for everyone!

End of summer appetizers? Let’s prolong the good taste of the summer vacations with lots of flavor and in company. Enjoy your meal!